Closed Debates? NO MORE in 2004!

Background:
From 1976 through 1984 the televised presidential debates were organized by the non-partisan League of Women Voters until the Republican and Democratic parties decided to control the debates themselves. In 1987 the bi-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) was formed – a private entity run by former chairmen of the Republican and Democratic parties. Each election cycle the two campaigns negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding which the CPD follows. Bill Moyer's NOW has a link to the 2004 MOU (the first one to be made public).

The CPD's candidate selection criteria are exclusionary since they require that candidates average at least 15% support in 5 national polls. This makes it very difficult for any 3rd parties to get their views heard in the debates. It also keeps the debates limited to two candidates who are very similar on all but a handful of issues. The two major parties agree on many important issues such as "free" trade agreements and corporate globalization. This is just fine with the major corporations who sponsor the debates.

After democracy advocates repeatedly tried and failed to persuade the CPD to open its events (even with two candidates who large majorities of the public wanted to see debate in 2000), it became imperative to replace the anti-democratic CPD.

"With over one hundred declared presidential candidates in 2000, limiting the number of debate participants was mandatory. But simply requiring that candidates appear on enough state ballots to have a mathematical chance to win is an appropriate standard for the first debate of each general election. This typically would yield from four to seven candidates--a number easily managed by the major parties in their own primary debates. After an initial debate, the field could be narrowed fairly with more stringent criteria." (Reclaim Democracy)

This website is dedicated to support efforts to open up the debates to include third party candidates. Many topics that are very important to a large percentage of the American public WILL NOT be covered by Bush and Kerry should these be the only two candidates allowed to participate. Don't let the Commission on Presidential Debates take your choices away!
Last modified: 13 September 2004